Circuit
Shanghai International Circuit
Shanghai, China
The Shanghai International Circuit is built around a distinctive signature: a long, tightening opening spiral that winds through Turns 1, 2 and 3 before unwinding again, working the front tyres hard and testing a driver's patience. Later the lap opens into an enormous back straight that feeds one of the heaviest braking zones anywhere, a natural overtaking spot. Looking after the front tyres through those long corners is the key to the whole lap.
It is one of the landmark modern circuits, a bold design with vast grandstands and a layout that rewards a car able to look after its rubber and still brake hard at the end of the straight. The contrast between the slow, patient spiral and the flat-out straight makes it a satisfying and revealing lap.
The gap, in metres
2026 Qualifying here. Each driver’s time gap converted to the distance it actually puts them behind at racing speed.
| # | Driver | Gap | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kimi Antonelli | reference | — |
| 2 | George Russell | +0.222 | 19.0 m |
| 3 | Lewis Hamilton | +0.351 | 30.0 m |
| 4 | Charles Leclerc | +0.364 | 31.1 m |
| 5 | Oscar Piastri | +0.486 | 41.6 m |
| 6 | Lando Norris | +0.544 | 46.5 m |
| 7 | Pierre Gasly | +0.809 | 69.2 m |
| 8 | Max Verstappen | +0.938 | 80.3 m |
| 9 | Isack Hadjar | +1.057 | 90.4 m |
| 10 | Oliver Bearman | +1.228 | 105.1 m |
Across the full field, Kimi Antonelli to Sergio Perez covers 414.3 m.
See the full 2026 Qualifying drawn to scaleOn the radio here
881 messages recorded at this circuit, 2018 to 2025.
- “Well done, Oscar. Great drive. Really good. Great job, mate. And it's a one-two for the team. Yeah, mega job, guys. Mega, mega job. Thank you very much. Car was very lovely. And yeah, good work on reacting with the deck. So great team effort. And that is one satisfying weekend. Thank you, everybody. Thank you.”Oscar PIASTRI · 2025 Race
- “My brake pedal's going a bit long. Yeah, the brake pedal's gone a lot longer. So it's been going long the whole time. We see it has stepped, yes. Yeah, now it's a lot longer. Like I would say, it's slightly gone. No, I know. I know. I know, mate.”Lando NORRIS · 2025 Race
- “Give me some feedback guys. Come on. I need feedback of where I'm losing. Just give me X8-13, 1-3 to improve Yeah, you told me that already The rest seems good. Keep monitoring”Lewis HAMILTON · 2025 Race
- “We're happy with tyres for now, but we are on the cricketer. Yeah, I'm good. I am good. I am better than everyone. Let's relax. I am very comfortable.”Alexander ALBON · 2025 Race